Aerosol valve assembly



Dec. 20, 1966 v. MlLcos 3,292,666

AEROSOL VALVE ASSEMBLY Filed Oct. 8, 1964 ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,292,666 AEROSOL VALVE ASSEMBLY Vassilios Milcos, Sutfern, N Y., assignor to Avon Products, Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Oct. 8, 1964, Ser. No. 402,576 5 Claims. (Cl. 141-20) The present invention relates to aerosol valves as used in conjunction with pressurized containers and more particularly to a valve through which the original charging of the associated container with a propellant or propellant and product may be effected at a fast rate and independently of the normal restricted pathway followed by the product during dispensing from the container.

In conventional aerosol containersin which a product and liquid or gaseous propellant are held, it is desirable to accurately control the rate of discharge of the product so as to form a fine product mist'or spray leaving the container through the discharge valve. To do this, these containers filled with the product and propellant, are provided with a depressible valve assembly having one or more Vrestricted orifices through which the product is adapted to be forced by the action of the propellant. Conventional valve assemblies usually include a stationary valve housing and associated depressible valve stern and the sizes of the orifices provided in these parts determine the rate of discharge of the product. Generally, the more restricted these orifices are, the finer the product spray produced.

In filling such containers with the product and propellaut, the product itself may first be placed into the container through its open end and then the dispensing valve assembly with an associated dip tube secured to the container. Next, the propellant which may be in either liquid or gaseous form is injected into the container and this is conventionally effected through the dispensing valve assembly. Alternatively, both the product and propellant may be injected into the container after the valve assembly is in place. In either event, where the pathway of the incoming propellant and or'product is through the restricted discharge `orifices of the valve assembly and through any restricted orifice that may be included in the dip tube, the rate of liow is severely curtailed. It is apparent that this increases the time required to complete the filling of each individual container and with todays assembly-line techniques, time required for the charging step will have a direct bearing on the overall cost of production of the completed containers.

To decrease these production costs, attempts have been made in the past to use a charging pathway that bypasses the restricted dispensing openings of the valve structure and dip tube. Generally, these constructions include normally closed filling or gassing orifices in the valve stem and like orifices in the surrounding valve housing. These orifices remain closed during normal dispensing of the product hom the container and do not confine any part of the pathway of the product as it is dispensed. Accordingly, they need not be restricted in size. During the original charging of the container with propellant through the valve stern, these gassing orifices are opened by the pressure of the incoming propellant so as to provide a substantially unrestricted pathway and thereby permit a relatively fast charging of the container. Although these constructions facilitate the desired quick charging of the container while at the same time retain the restricted pathway for discharging the product from the container, they require separate sealing members for preventing the propellant from escaping through the gassing orices during the dispensing of the contents and as such require additional assembly steps. Also, in these constructions, the sealing members covering the gassing orifices are nor- ICC mally held closed against the valve stem and housing by the pressure created inside the container through the propellant and if these sealing members are not accurately seated against the gassing orifices during the dispensing operation, leakage of the propellant and mixing with the product as it leaves the container may result. Improper seating of these sealing members may result if they have become distorted for any of a number of reasons. For example, during the charging of the container through the filling or gassing openings, the pressure under which the propellant and or contents are introduced will cause the sealing members to bend away from their normal position covering the openings. If, however, the pressure exerted against these sealing members happens to be excessive to the point where the sealing members are deformed, they may not return into proper sealing engagement over the filling openings when the filling is completed and the pressure removed. Also, the product held in the container may be such that it will have an adverse effect on these sealing members causing them to swell and in this way causing them to become unseated.

According to the teachings of the present invention, a valve construction is provided for use with aerosol containers in which the charging of the container is effected through at least one path that is unrestricted while discharge of the product is effected through a pathway including orifices of any desired restriction that is disassociated from the unrestricted charging path.

Generally, the valve assembly of the present invention includes a valve housing of specific construction and a hollow valve stem slidably positioned therein. The discharge end of the valve stem extends out one end of the housing through a selectively openable sealing member while the other end of the valve stem cooperating with a second sealing member divides the housing into two chambers spaced axially therealong. One of the charnbers is positioned between the two sealing members and directly connected to the interior of the container by a plurality of unrestricted charging openings while the other chamber is positioned to selectively connect the interior of the container through restricted dispensing orifices to the interior of the valve stem when it isdesired to effect a discharge of the contents. With this construction, charging of the container may be effected rapidly and independently of the restricted discharge orifices of the housing and valve stern by forcing propellant from a suitable external source into the first chamber, and due to the completely independent paths of flow of the propellant and product, no additional sealing means need be provided for closing the charging openings during dispensing of the product Also, the separate pathways provided with the present construction also function to prevent inadvertent mixing of the propellant with the kproduct as the latter is dispensed.

A fuller understanding of the present invention will be obtained by a reading of the following detailed description with reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the valve assembly constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention and with the various parts shown in their normally closed position;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional View of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 with the parts in position for charging the container; and

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment shown in FIG. l with the parts positioned for discharging the product from the container.

Referring to the drawings, the valve assembly of the present invention generally includes an elongated valve housing 1 and a depressible valve stem 2. The housing itself is provided at one end with an enlarged opening 3 for receiving one end of the valve stern and at its other end with -a restricted housing inlet orifice 4. A plurality of filling orifices 5 are provided in the housing wall intermediate its ends and as shown, each of these orifices 5 presents a flow path much larger than that of the inlet orifice 4. The interior wall of the housing is formed with a transverse seating flange 6 disposed between the inlet orifice 4 and the filling orifices 5. This flange faces in a direction toward the open end of the housing.

Cooperating with this housing structure is the valve stem 2. According to the teachings of the present invention, the valve stem 2 is positioned within the housing 1 in spaced relationship with its interior walls. A bore 7 extends through the stem from its upper exposed end to a point spaced from its lower end and a constricted inlet orifice 8 connects this bore to the interior of the housing. The lower end of the valve stem extends within the housing past the seating flange 6 while an intermediate portion of the stem is provided with an enlarged head 9. The opposite surfaces of this head extend transversely of the valve stem and face in opposite directions. The upper surface of the head as viewed in the drawings provides a sealing fiange 10 facing the housing opening 3 while the lower surface provides a seating flange 11 facing the flange 6 of the housing.

For aligning and sealing purposes, the valve assembly is provided with two sealing gaskets 12 and 13. The first of these gaskets is positioned over the open end of the housing and secured thereto by means of a valve cup member 14 which may be suitably crimped about the exterior wall surface of the housing as shown at 14. This sealing gasket is provided with a central opening of the same size as the adjacent part of the valve stem so as to be in sealing yet slidable engagement therewith and is made of relatively flexible material for reasons set out below. The second sealing gasket 13 is positioned within the housing on the flange 6 and is also provided with a central opening of the same size as the adjacent portion of the valve stem.

To complete the valve assembly'of the present invention, a compression spring 15 is disposed in surrounding relationship with the valve stem 2 and positioned within the housing 1 with one end bearing against the seating flange 11 of the valve stem and the other end bearing against the sealing gasket 6. This spring functions to hold the valve stem in its normally closed position as shown in FIG. 1 with the sealing flange 10 of the valve stem engaging the sealing gasket 12. In addition, the spring holds the sealing gasket 13 seated against movement on the housing flange 6.

As shown in the drawings, the sealing gasket 13, cooperating with the housing wall and valve stem, divides the interior of the housing into two separate chambers 16 and 17. The first of these chambers, shown at 16, is in direct communication with the exterior ofthe housing through the filling openings 5 while the second chamber 17 is in direct communication with the exterior of the housing via the inlet orifice 4. Also, as shown in FIG. l, the sealing gasket 13 is adapted to cover and thereby seal the valve stem inlet orifice 8 when the valve stem is in its normally closed position.

The above-described valve assembly is adapted to be inserted into one end of a dip tube 18 and the whole structure inserted into the open' end of a conventional aerosol container. For holding the valve assembly in place, the free edge 19 of the valve cup may be secured to the container neck in any suitable manner.

In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, the above-described valve assembly when assembled into a container provides two separate fiow paths extending from the exterior of the container to the interior thereof. One of these paths is used exclusively in charging the container with propellant and or product and is generally unrestricted in nature while the other is adapted to be used during the dispensing of the product from the container and as such includes all restricted orifices of the assembly and any restricted orifice that may be provided in the associated dip tube 18.

In originally charging the container, assuming for the purposes of description that both the product and propellant are to be inserted after the valve assembly has been attached to the container, the valve stem is depressed to the position shown in FIG. 2 with the sealing fiange 10 of the valve stem out of contact with the sealing gasket 12 and with the valve stem inlet orifice disposed below the sealing gasket 13.

With the parts in this position, the product and propellant may be injected under pressure into the container via the unrestricted path indicated by the solid arrows inFIG. 2. As mentioned above, the sealing gasket 12 is made of flexible material and accordingly, with the valve stem in the charging position as shownin FIG.`

2, this gasket will ybe free to flex inwardly of the housing 1 to provide the required flow path. If, during the charging operation, the path indicated by the solid arrows in FIG. 2 is used exclusively, the bore 7 of the valve stem will be temporarily closed by any suitable means to prevent the product from escaping from the container. Alternatively, howeverpthe charging may also be effected through the valve stem along` the path indicated by the dotted ar-rows in FIG. 2, if desired. This will not in any way decrease the filling rate since the unobstructed path through the sealing gasket 12 and filling orifices 5 will, of course, still be used.

After the container has been completely filled with product and propellant and it is desired to dispense a portion of the product, the valve stem is again depressed.

In actual practice the valve stem during discharging will.

most likely be depressed, as shown in FIG. 3, to the same extent as it was during the charging operation although it is only necessary to depress the stern a sufficient amount to position the valve stem inlet orifice 8 below the sealing member 13 and in communication with the housing inlet orifice 4. In this position, the product will exit from the container along the path shown by the solid arrows in FIG; 3. The top exposed portion of the valve stem may normally be provided with a conventional valve cap, not shown, if such is found desirable.

During the dispensing of the Vproduct from the `container, it is to be noted that the chambers 16 and 17 remain isolated from each other thus avoiding the possibility of propellant leaking from the container along with the product. Furthermore, since the two chambers are always isolated from each other, the filling orifice 5 need not be provided with any sealing members and the propellant within the chamber 16 will aid in maintaining the sealing gasket 12 pressed upwardly into sealing engagef ment with the valve stem 2 as shown in FIG. 3.

In accordance with the teachings of the present invention as described above, it is seen that applicant has provided a valve assembly simple in construction and one in which metered or controlled flow dispensing with fast efiicient charging of aerosol containers is possible.

The above description is of the preferred embodiment of the present invention; however, it is to be understood that various changes in construction may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

I claim:

1. An aerosol valve assembly comprising:

(a) a valve housing;

(b) a valve stem positioned for axial movement in spaced relationship within said housing with one end thereof extending outwardly of said housing;

(c) first selectively openable sealing means normally closing the space between said housing and the one end of said valve stem;

(d) a bore extending through said valve stem from said one end to a point spaced from the other end thereof;

(e) second sealing means axially spaced from said first sealing means and extending between said valve stem and the interior wall of said housing intermediate said ends of the valve stem for dividing the housing into a first chamber surrounding said other end of the valve stem and a second chamber surrounding an intermediate portion thereof, said second chamber extending between said first and second sealing means;

(f) a housing inlet orifice extending through the wall of said housing and into said first chamber;

(g) a housing filling orifice extending through the wall of said housing and into said second chamber; and

(h) a selectively openable valve stem inlet orifice cxtending through the wall of said valve stem and into said bore for selectively placing said first chamber in fiuid communication with the bore of said valve stem.

2. An aerosol valve assembly comprising:

(a) an elongated valve housing;

(b) an enlarged opening in one end of said housing;

(c) a housing inlet orifice in the other end thereof;

(d) at least one housing filling orifice -connecting the the interior of said housing with the exterior thereof intermediate said ends;

(e) an elongated valve stem slidably positioned for axial movement in spaced relationship within said housing with one end thereof extending outwardly through said enlarged opening;

(f) a bore extending through said valve stem from said one end thereof to a position spaced from its other end;

(g) a valve stem inlet orifice extending through said valve stem intermediate its ends and connecting said 'bore to the exterior of said stem;

(h) first selectively openable sealing means surrounding said valve stem adjacent said one end thereof and normally closing said enlarged opening;

(i) second sealing means positioned within said housing in engagement with the interior wall thereof and said valve stern and dividing the interior of said housing into two separate chambers, one of which is in communication with the housing inlet orifice and the other of which is in communication with said housing filling orifice; and

(j) means for urging said valve stem in a direction outwardly of the enlarged opening in said valve housing and into a predetermined position where said valve stem inlet orifice is covered by said second sealing means.

3. An aerosol valve assembly comprising:

(a) a valve housing;

(b) an opening at one end of said housing;

(c) an inlet orifice at the other end of said housing;

(d) -at least one filling orifice intermediate said ends;

(e) a transverse housing ange positioned on the interior wall of said housing between said inlet and filling orifices and facing toward said opening;

(f) a first selectively openable sealing gasket fixed to said one end of the housing and extending partially across said opening;

(g) a second sealing gasket positioned Ion said flange and extending transversely of said opening;

(h) a valve stern slidably positioned for axial movement in said housing in spaced relationship with the interior wall thereof and with one end extending outwardly through said first gasket and the other end extending in sealing engagement through said second gasket, said first gasket being normally positioned in sealing engagement with said valve stem;

(i) a bore extending through said valve stem from said one end to a position spaced from its other end;

(j) a valve stem inlet orifice connected to said bore adjacent said other end;

(k) a transverse valve stern sealing flange positioned on said valve stem and facing said opening; and

(l) bias means for urging said valve stem into a predetermined position within said housing with said valve stem ange seated against said first sealing gasket and with said valve stem inlet orifice in alignment with said second sealing gasket.

4. An aerosol valve assembly according to claim 3 wherein (a) said first sealing gasket is made of flexible material whereby movement of said Valve stem into said housing through a predetermined distance will permit direct communication between the housing opening and said filling orifices.

5. An aerosol valve assembly according to claim 4 wherein:

(a) said valve stem is provided with a transverse seating flange positioned between said sealing flange and the housing ange and facing toward said housing flange; and

(b) said bias means comprises a compression spring surrounding said Valve stem with one end seated against said sealing flange and the other end seated against said second sealing gasket for urging said valve stem into said predetermined position and said second sealing gasket onto said housing fiange.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,961,131 11/1960 Bradbury 141-3 X 3,158,298 11/1964 Briechle 141-20 X 3,160,182 12/1964 ODonnell 141-20 3,180,374 4/1965 Muller 141-2() LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner.

S. BELL,y Assistant Examinar.L

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE 0F CORRECTION Patent No. 3,292,666 December 20, 1966 Vassilios Milcos` It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column l, line 57, for "confine" read define Signed and sealed this 12th day of September 1967.

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER Attesting Officer EDWARD J. BRENNER Commissioner of Patents 

1. AN AEROSOL VALVE ASSEMBLY COMPRISING: (A) A VALVE HOUSING: (B) A VALVE STEM POSITIONED FOR AXIAL MOVEMENT IN SPACED RELATIONSHIP WITHIN SAID HOUSING WITH ONE END THEREOF EXTENDING OUTWARDLY OF SAID HOUSING; (C) FIRST SELECTIVELY OPENABLE SEALING MEANS NORMALLY CLOSING THE SPACE BETWEEN SAID HOUSING AND THE ONE END OF SAID VALVE STEM; (D) A BORE EXTENDING THROUGH SAID VALVE STEM FROM SAID ONE END TO A POINT SPACED FROM THE OTHER END THEREOF; (E) SECOND SEALING MEANS AXIALLY SPACED FROM SAID FIRST SEALING MEANS AND EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID VALVE STEM AND THE INTERIOR WALL OF SAID HOUSING INTERMEDIATE SAID ENDS OF THE VALVE STEM FOR DRIVING THE HOUSING INTO A FIRST CHAMBER SURROUNDING SAID OTHER END OF THE VALVE STEM AND A SECOND CHAMBER SURROUNDING AN INTERMEDIATE PORTION THEREOF, SAID SECOND CHAMBER EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID FIRST AND SECOND SEALING MEANS; (F) A HOUSING INLET ORIFICE EXTENDING THROUGH THE WALL OF SAID HOUSING AND INTO SAID FIRST CHAMBER; (G) A HOUSING FILLING ORIFICE EXTENDING THROUGH THE WALL OF SAID HOUSING AND INTO SAID SECOND CHAMBER; AND (H) A SELECTIVELY OPENABLE VALVE STEM INLET ORIFICE EXTENDING THROUGH THE WALL OF SAID VALVE STEM AND INTO SAID BORE FOR SELECTIVELY PLACING SAID FIRST CHAMBER IN FLUID COMMUNICATION WITH THE BORE OF SAID VALVE STEM. 